M31 and M57 buses
{{Short description|Bus routes in Manhattan, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox bus line
|box_width = 300px
|number = {{NYC bus infobox header|title=m31, m57}}
|logo =
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|subheader = 57th Street Crosstown Line
|image = {{Photomontage
| size = 300
| photo1a = MTA New Flyer XD40 7597.jpg
| photo1b = MTA NYCT; 2021-2022 NovaBus LFS HEV 9676 on the M57.jpg
}}
|image_width = 300px
|image_alt =
|caption = A 2019 XD40 (7597) on the M31 and a 2021 LFS HEV (9676) on the Upper West Side-bound M57
|system = MTA Regional Bus Operations
|operator = Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority
|garage = Tuskegee Airmen Depot (M31)
Michael J. Quill Depot (M57)
|vehicle = Nova Bus LFS HEV
New Flyer Xcelsior XD40
New Flyer Xcelsior XE40 (M57 only)
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|locale = Manhattan, New York, U.S.
|communities = Upper West Side, Riverside South, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, Sutton Place, Upper East Side
|termini =
|start = M31: Hell's Kitchen –54th Street and 11th Avenue
M57: Upper West Side –72nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue
|via = 57th Street
M31: York Avenue
M57: West End Avenue
|end = M31: Upper East Side –1st Avenue and 92nd Street
M57: Sutton Place –1st Avenue and 55th Street
|length = {{Convert|2.7|mi|km}} (eastbound M57)
{{Convert|3.0|mi|km}} (westbound M57)
{{Convert|3.8|mi|km}} (M31)
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|day = M31: 5 a.m. (7 a.m. weekends) to 12:30 a.m.{{cite NYC bus|M31|url=https://new.mta.info/document/7591}}
M57: 5 a.m. (6:30 a.m. weekends) to 12:30 a.m.{{cite NYC bus|M57|url=https://new.mta.info/document/7626}}
|zone =
|timetable_link= [https://new.mta.info/document/7591 M31] [https://new.mta.info/document/7626 M57]
|ridership = M31: 2,447,050 (2024)
M57: 1,704,084 (2024){{cite web | title=Subway and bus ridership for 2024 | website=mta.info | date=June 10, 2025| url=https://new.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/subway-bus-ridership-2024| access-date=June 11, 2025}}
|transfers = Yes
|map_link =
|map =
|map_state = collapsed
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|previous_line = {{font color|white|#00CCFF|M23 SBS}}
← M50
|next_line = {{font color|white|#00CCFF|M34 SBS}} →
{{font color|white|#00CCFF|M60 SBS}}
|notes =
}}
The M31 and M57 bus routes constitute the 57th Street Crosstown Line, a public transit line in Manhattan, New York City, running primarily along 57th Street. The M31 runs between 11th Avenue and 54th Street in Hell's Kitchen to 1st Avenue and 92nd Street in Yorkville. The M57 runs from 72nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side to Sutton Place and 57th Street in Sutton Place.{{Cite web|title=MTA Bus Time|url=http://bt.mta.info/#m57|access-date=2020-11-17|website=bt.mta.info|archive-date=2020-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103112947/http://bt.mta.info/#m57|url-status=live}}{{Cite NYC bus map|M}}
The M31 and M57 are legally operated by the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of New York City Transit, whose bus routes were consolidated into MTA Regional Bus Operations.
Route description and service
File:(USA-New York) Metropolitan Transportation Authority 9635 NY-MTA-BD9374 M31 2024-06-19.jpg LFS HEV (9635) on the Yorkville-bound M31 in June 2024]]
For most of its length, the M31 uses 57th Street to travel crosstown, then uses York Avenue to travel uptown to 92nd Street and First Avenue. At its western end, the M31 turns left on Eleventh Avenue, then left on 54th Street to terminate; eastbound buses return to 57th Street using Tenth Avenue. At its northern/eastern end, the M31 goes left on 91st Street then right on First Avenue, terminating along 92nd Street before returning southbound on York Avenue.{{cite web |date=September 2023 |title=Manhattan Bus Map |url=https://new.mta.info/map/5391 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://new.mta.info/map/5391/http://web.mta.info/nyct/maps/manbus.pdf |archive-date=April 30, 2019 |access-date=September 22, 2016 |publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}} During morning rush hours, one articulated bus runs on the M31.
The M57 mostly duplicates the M31 along 57th Street. The only major difference is that the M57 uses West End Avenue to reach its western terminus at 72nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue. At its eastern end, the M57 reaches First Avenue, eastbound buses turn on 1st, then terminate. Westbound buses then use Sutton Place, 55th Street, and First Avenue to access 57th Street, where they turn back crosstown.
The M57 operates out of Michael J. Quill Depot whereas the M31 operates out of the Tuskegee Airmen Depot.
History
=M31=
File:Turnstyle at Columbus Circle (26109472913).jpg (57 St-8th Ave), incorrectly displaying Yorkville.]]
East Side Omnibus Corporation began operating bus route (M11) on June 25, 1933.
The route was renumbered as the M31 on July 1, 1974, as part of the renumbering of bus routes in Manhattan.{{cite web | title=Historical Maps | website=www.nycsubway.org – 1974 Manhattan bus guide – Part 1: The Whole Map | date=1974 | url=http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/caption.pl?/img/maps/bus-1974man1.jpg | access-date=September 22, 2016 | archive-date=August 17, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817103646/http://www.nycsubway.org/perl/caption.pl?/img/maps/bus-1974man1.jpg | url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/20/archives/2-boroughs-buses-get-new-numbers-route-jumblie-ends-july-1-in.html|title=2 BOROUGHS' BUSES GET NEW NUMBERS|date=June 20, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=October 2, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801085719/http://www.nytimes.com/1974/06/20/archives/2-boroughs-buses-get-new-numbers-route-jumblie-ends-july-1-in.html|url-status=live}}
=M57=
File:57th St 7th Av td (2018-08-16) 21.jpg (5213) on the M57 at 57th St-7th Ave in August 2018]]
Buses were introduced on April 17, 1934. Service formerly went between Columbus Circle and Sutton Place.{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C02E4DD1030EE32A25751C1A9659C946694D6CF|title=Buses to Link 2 Rivers Via 57th St. Monday|date=March 12, 1937|website=The New York Times|access-date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307154456/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C02E4DD1030EE32A25751C1A9659C946694D6CF|url-status=live}} Fifth Avenue Coach Company began operating bus #20 on March 15, 1937, from Sutton Place to 12th Avenue to provide river-to-river service for Sutton Place residents at five-minute headways.
The route, formerly numbered M20, became M28 on July 1, 1974, as part of the renumbering of bus routes in Manhattan.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/23/archives/letters-to-the-editor-energy-blueprint-for-independence-bill-of.html|title=Letters to the Editor|date=July 23, 1974|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=September 22, 2016|archive-date=August 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801084400/http://www.nytimes.com/1974/07/23/archives/letters-to-the-editor-energy-blueprint-for-independence-bill-of.html|url-status=live}}
On September 10, 1989, the M28 (57th Street Crosstown) and M103 (59th/60th Street Crosstown) routes were merged to form the M57. M57 buses began operating from 57th Street and Sutton Place South to Broadway and 72nd Street, running via 57th Street and West End Avenue.* {{cite web|date=1989|title=Introducing the M57, M58 & M72 routes: Announcing Improved Manhattan Crosstown Bus Service Starting Sunday, September 10, 1989|url=http://imgbox.com/JQkTJd0s|accessdate=March 11, 2018|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915020639/http://imgbox.com/JQkTJd0s|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|date=1989|title=Introducing the M57, M58 & M72 routes: Announcing Improved Manhattan Crosstown Bus Service Starting Sunday, September 10, 1989|url=http://imgbox.com/47ZRjgsb|accessdate=March 11, 2018|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915020847/http://imgbox.com/47ZRjgsb|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|date=1989|title=Introducing the M57, M58 & M72 routes: Announcing Improved Manhattan Crosstown Bus Service Starting Sunday, September 10, 1989|url=http://imgbox.com/za0le0hN|accessdate=March 11, 2018|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915021407/http://imgbox.com/za0le0hN|url-status=live}}
- {{cite web|date=1989|title=Introducing the M57, M58 & M72 routes: Announcing Improved Manhattan Crosstown Bus Service Starting Sunday, September 10, 1989|url=http://imgbox.com/lGJ03tkA|accessdate=March 11, 2018|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|archive-date=September 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915025207/http://imgbox.com/lGJ03tkA|url-status=live}}
File:57th St 7th Av td (2018-08-16) 12.jpg VII OG HEV (6736) at 57th St-7th Ave on the Upper West Side-bound M57.]]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category multi|M31 (New York City bus)|M57 (New York City bus)}}
{{Manhattan bus routes|state=expanded}}